emmreadsbooks's reviews
1173 reviews

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

A sinister murder mystery surrounding a cozy baking show? Uh yeah, I'm listening. 

This book definitely rides the Great British Baking Show hype all the way to its (albeit somewhat confusing) conclusion and I couldn't put it down. Having a full cast narrate it only added to the atmosphere, making it much easier to distinguish between the characters. It also made it feel like reality show confessionals, true to the genre we were aiming for. 

If anything, I wish it had been longer. The culprits for the various crimes were fairly obvious, so I wish there were a few more red herrings and secrets tossed in. But overall pretty satisfying to listen to and a quick read for anyone missing Bakeoff right now.

*Thank you to Simon Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

The sheer fact that this entire book is based on a REAL flirty interview with Chris Evans is just sheer perfection. I was giggling, gasping, and grimacing my way through this book as we alternate timelines and try to suss out ~exactly~ what happened between Chani and Gabe. I'm a sucker for Hollywood gossip in books, especially when it ends up being celebrities acting normal. But between The Cozy, the cutest pup Teddy, and Chani's wit in her blogs and articles, it's just delightful. (Plus the giant BANG at the end, we love.)

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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adventurous inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book absolutely needs to be listened to on audiobook, it just hits different. And imagine, being able to pair this with the TV show's soundtrack? I got so excited listening to Regret You during that chapter. It feels like a documentary, but has so much more interest. You follow the formation of the band and early lives of the members, but it feels like it's splicing together confessionals from everyone. On audio, it reads like a conversation that flows seamlessly through their history. And honestly, I would buy and reread this book again and again and I DON'T EVEN LIKE HISTORICAL FICTION.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I don't know why I thought this was going to be less cozy, but it is a retirement community after all. While the audio was really well done, I had issues following all of the characters and PoVs in the format. This combined with general British humor just not hitting with me led to an unfortunate experience. But I think many people will enjoy this book!

*Thank you to PRH Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review*
Need S'More Time by Nellie Wilson

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adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

As a kid who went to nature camp and later became a counselor there, it's like this book was made for me. Would I curl up with Colin on his murder couch? Absolutely. It was so refreshing having a romance book talk about the pandemic, educational burnout, and poop. (Yeah, I'm serious about the last one... WHY DOES NO ONE EVER POOP IN ROMCOMS?) June is so sweet and Colin gives me all of those melty marshmallow feelings. The only con is that he's a psycho who purposefully burns his s'mores. Like....why?

Her writing definitely improved in Curated, but don't sleep on S'more! It's a quick book full of wilderness vibes and the cutest puppycat to ever exist. 
Off the Map by Trish Doller

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adventurous funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I've come to expect this from Trish Doller's books, but my heart hurts. Eamon and Carla fit together so well - while I wouldn't say it's insta-love, they have an immediate connection. And it is a STEAMY one! But this book hits so much harder when we begin to discuss the idea of mortality, being a caretaker, and running away from the things that scare us. I feel like I just got out of a therapy session, but this didn't cost $200. She's able to write with such care about difficult topics, but also incorporate these dreamy settings. I want to sip on sangria and swim in one of Biggie's vintage band tees.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

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challenging medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

To preface this, the prose itself is beautiful and I really enjoyed the dialogue on self-sabotage... But what the actual fuck.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

While the blurb gave away some of the general plot of the book, I was still astounded by it. Enter Blackbriar: the secluded estate of renowned writer Roza Vallo, home to a mysterious massacre and unexpected secrets. As Alex battles her writer's block and the sudden reunion with her ex-best friend, we explore Blackbriar and the strange competition that's unfolding. I was expecting something similar to And Then There Were None, but was happily surprised. I also really enjoyed how she handled Alex questioning her sexuality and the snippets of The Great Commission strewn between chapters. With sinister visions of demons and constant paranoia throughout, this book is a wild ride that I'd be happy to take again. 

*Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Ever After Always by Chloe Liese

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funny inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I've read a lot of romance and there's always something refreshing about Chloe Liese's books. Be it the sheer comfort of stepping into one or the neurodivergence representation, it's there. In particular, I don't feel like there are many "marriage in trouble" romances and Freya and Aiden just make this trope phenomenal. Freya is so confident and Aiden so considerate, and the fact that they go to couples counseling immediately is *chef's kiss*. We love a couple who's willing to admit they've made mistakes and take steps to communicate. Having Generalized Anxiety Disorder myself, I related to Aiden with his hyperfixations and worries. And having the Bergman brothers trying to engineer romance for him was absolutely hilarious. Esmeralda had me reeling! Will every book be my favorite thus far? Probably. 

But give me an a-frame and a Bergman brother please.
Dream to Me by Megan Paasch

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reminiscent of The Dead & The Dark with a nightmarish twist, we have another amazing paranormal YA mystery. As soon as I saw that their surname was Sylvan, I knew we were in for something supernatural. But delving into the dream world and having dramatic real life consequences? Perfection. I loved the pacing of the book, mixed with the dark atmosphere. Adding in that Eva keeps having these feelings of deja vu with no inclination as to why gives so much delightful creepiness to the story. It did have predictable elements, but the point here was that Eva was blind to them, adding dramatic irony to the mix. And given that this is Megan Paasch's debut, I'm very excited to see what she does next. 

*Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*